Automobile.



G. w. DE WITT. AUTOMOBILE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED JULY 26, 1913.

11,091,735. Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

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AUTOMOBILE.

Application and July 2a, 1513. Serial ire-181,424.

specification of -Lettcrs laten t.

. Patented Main31, 19M.

To all whomz't may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon a citizen ofthe United States, residing at- Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobilesg-of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automobiles and more particularly to a means for distributing the power therein, and the primary object of the invention resides in providing means for distributing the propelling power .to. the fore wheels of the vehicle and at the same time provide for the steering of the vehicle through the movement of the same wheels.

A further objectof the invention resides in providing an improved steering knuckle and hub in connection with the fore wheels of a vehicle and a still further object resides in providing a construction wherein the differential or compensating gearingfis eliminated. I i

A still ,further objectof the invention resides in providing a construction in which the motol', clutch case, transmission case and ring gear or differential gear case is a unit. Still another object of the invent on resides in providing a device which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one WhlCh' Wlll be very eflicient and useful in operation.

With these and other objects .111 view, the

invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying part ofthis application, Figure 1 IS a mentary plan view of a vehicle with my improvements applied to use thereon, ing parts in section. Fig. 21s a front elevation thereof with parts broken away.

the hub and spring knuckle construction.

In describing my invention, 1' shall refer to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 indicates a main frame of a vehicle, the

forward ends of which are suitably mountediin connection with a casing 2, which is tapered. smaller toward'its ends and designed w. DE w drawing forming a disclossaid ends. a

to provide the steering knuckles 3', at the Threaded i-nto.the lower arm of each ofthe steering knuckles 3, is a vertical stub shaft or pm 4:, upon which is slidably mountter being arranged in a vertical position and having threaded in the peripherythere of, at a point diametrically opposite the pin or stub shaft 4,;an additional pin or stub shaft 6. This latter pin or stub shaft is slidably disposed through an opening in the upper arm of the steering knuckle and the outer. end of this member (S-has a head 7- formed thereon which is slidably guided in a frame 8 mounted'onthe top of the upper arm of the 'steering'knuckle. A strong .ooil spring 9 is mountedin this frame and presses downwardly upon the head 7.. The

purpose of this 0011 spring will be hereinafter and more particularly set forth.-

Eachof the drum-like casings or housings 5 has a downwardly inclined tubular extension 10 formed about centrally thereon,

the bore of which is reduced to provide a shoulder 11 and the'outer free end of this tubular extension 10 is threaded, as shown at 12. Mounted on. the inner and outer portions, respectively, of 'the tubular extension 10 are the cones 13 and 14,- which are ar ranged thereon according to the downward inclination. of said tubular portion and the inner opposed edges of said cones are provided with-race-ways to receive .the bearing balls 15 therein. A hub 16 of a wheel 17 is designed to rest upon the bearingballs 15 and a cap 18 which'is applied to the outer .end of the hub 16 receives therethrough the squared portion of a shaft section19, the latter being snugly fitted and rotatably mounted in the tubular extension-10 of the casing or housing 5. The extreme outer end of the shaft section 19 on the squared portion thereof, has a nut 20 applied thereto. which, when turned home, secures the cap 18 in position to admit of the rotation of the wheel upon the rotation of the shaft 1.9; A look nut 21- is applied to the threaded 01'- tion 12 of the tubular extension 10 to ock the cone 14in place and simultaneously lock the hub 16 in place. It will be seen from this construction that the planeof the wheel. 17. is angular to the vertical plane of the pivot'pins 4 and 6 and said planes con.- verge at the point of contact of the wheel.

60 ed a drum-like casing or housing 5,the latwith the ground. ,Formed on each of the housings or casings 5, is a forwardly extending arm or projection 22 which has connected thereto, one end ofa connecting rod 23. The wheels, through this medium, may

be operated together. y I The inner end of the shaft section 19 has connection withan additional shaft section 24, through the medium of a universal knuckle 25 and'a further shaft section 26 has connection with the opposite end of the shaft section 24, through an additional universal knuckle 27. The shaft section 26 extends through the gear casing 28 which is formed as a part of the casing 2 and has an enlarged bevel gear 29 mounted thereon.

' This bevel gear meshes with a pinion 30 carried on the forward end of a longitudinall extending shaft 31'which is arranged in t e transmission case 32. This latter case is formed integral. with the gear case and is I also formed integral with the clutch case 33.

applied to the fore wheels of the device, the

same may, at the same time, --be readily turned in either direction, particular] in view of the inclination of the planes 0 the v/heels with respect to the planes of the ,pivot points therefor.

In considerin the construction and operation of the device, it

. will be wellto consider an imaginary cone as shown indotted lines in the drawing, the side of which is formed by the plane of a wheel. An imaginary line drawn through the pivot pins 4: and 6 will converge with the plane of the wheel at the point of contact with the ground and thereby form the center of the imaginary cone and the top of the wheel in its various movementsthrough the guiding ,thereof will strike a circle around the base of the cone which, in this case, would be inverted. It is this construction, as so considered, that permits the differential or compensating gearing tobe eliminated and, at the same time, affords safety in the operation of the vehicle hav ing this construction" applied. While the fore wheelsmay be rotated at a great rate of speed, it will be understood that the same may be readily turned in either direction to guide the vehicle and when said wheels meet obstructions in the path thereof, the same steering and causes the front wheels to constantly assume a straight line. The wheels turn quite readily, however, and after rounding a curve, assume a straight line with little turning of the steering wheel.

These advantages are all afforded through the particular construction above described and shown in the drawing.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objects of the invention and while I have particularl described the elements best adapted to per orm the functions set forth, it is obviousthat various changes in form, proportion and, in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing principles of the invention. 7 M

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is In a vehicle, the combination with a casing having a knuckle formed at the end thereof; of a drum-like housin arranged between the arms of said knuckfiz and pro- -from the spirit or sacrificing any of the vided with openings in the periphery at diametrically opposite points thereon, the one opening being threaded, a stub shaft removably engaged with one arm of said knuckle and loosel disposed through the unthreaded opening of said drum-like housing, an additional stub shaft threaded into engagement with the threaded opening of said housing and loosely disposed through the opposite arm of said casing, a head piece mounted on the outer end of the last mentioned stub shaft, a guide frame mounted on the arm of said knuckle, through which said last mentioned stub shaft is disposed, spring means arranged in the guide frame 1n contact with said head 'piece to' yieldingly support the drum-like housing in said knuckle, and means for" rotatably sup porting a wheel on said drum-like housmg.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE w. DE WITT. 

